Page 178 of Fractured Future

“Our help with what?” I sneer at him. “You’re our enemy. I’m going to take great pleasure in tearing apart the few allies you’ve gathered and tossing you back in a cell.”

“Or you can help me track down my father and burn down the Madden dynasty for good.”

“Are you serious?” A laugh bursts free.

“Deadly. I’ll allow you to light the damn match, if you so please.”

Reeling back, I stare deeply into his eyes. Not spotting a single hint of deception. Jesus fucking Christ, he lost his mind while on the run from the law. He actually believes we’d buy that crap.

“Track him down so you can reunite with dear old dad?” I straighten, wanting to smack the smug piece of shit. “Then you’ll steamroll over my team for what we’ve done to that empire you once held so dear.”

“Fucking fool!” Madden spits out.

His calm mask slips, offering a glimpse of the infamous Phantom. You don’t earn a terrifying name for yourself with fancy accents and clever spiels. Though he was almost convincing.

“Do you really think I wish to reunite with that monster?” He strains against his wrist cuffs.

“You worked for the man your entire life.”

“Not out of choice!” His hiss fills the air. “I’ve spent most of my life in servitude!”

Fighting the handcuffs again, Madden thrashes and lurches, unable to escape the metal restraints.

“He raised me to be this… this… machine! This violent creature! I had no choice. I’ve spent every waking moment doing his bidding to avoid…”

Voice failing, Madden stares intently at Ember. Something seems to pass between them. A glimpse of recognition. She knows something about him that we don’t.

God, I fucking despise that.

“I did my best to steer the direction of thefamily business.” Madden swallows to moisten his mouth. “He still found a way to subvert my efforts. Then when the time came, he fed me to the wolves and left.”

When an odd sensation crawls into my heart and sinks its claws inside me, I take several big steps back. Disgust is tart and overwhelming on my tongue.

Oh, hell no. I don’t think so.

Do I actually pity him?

I’ve worked with villains before. The worst kind. Saved a fair few of them along the way too. Some are worthy of garnering our sympathy, while others deserve their place on society’s scrap heap.

Madden is evil.

He’s the worst of the worst.

Right?

“You used me as a pawn.” Ember loudly clears her throat. “To play some insane long game with people who despise you in hope that you could track down a missing mobster to get your revenge?”

“Something like that.”

“Fuck, Blaine. I don’t know what’s more impressive… your scheming or your audacity.”

Madden breaks out in one of his classic smirks. “I do enjoy being audacious when the situation allows.”

“But why infiltrate their meeting? They must know you’re not on their side.”

“I like to have a Plan B.” Madden shrugs. “I thought that if I could establish contact, present myself as a sympathetic party or perhaps an ally, it would lead me to my father.”

Whistling under my breath, I brace my hands on my hips. “You’re crazy.”